Plastic container upper closure comprising a three straps assembly with at least one additional strap which comprises a connector in its free end

ABSTRACT

Plastic container (100) upper closure for containing and transporting horticultural products which allows to control deformation of the structure on forces and to maintain the integrity of the products stored inside the container (100), the upper closure (300) is configured by three flexible straps (310) equidistantly distributed in the upper face of two container walls (100) attached to it by terminals (320) wherein the three straps (310) of each large wall (110) converge in their ends in hook means (340), wherein the three straps assembly of at least one side has an additional strap (350) consisting of an elongated element attached to the zone in which the three straps converge and it comprises a connector (351) in its free end.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to the field of the plastic containersused for horticultural products exports, also denominated as “One Way”containers, especially those containers weighing below 450 gr.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, there is an unlimited number of containers designs used forstorage and transportation of fruits and vegetables throughout theproduction chain, that is to say, from harvesting until the sale to thefinal consumer. Said diversity is associated to the active developmentthat the packaging industry currently has, whose main target has beenalways the same, to search an optimal product having a cost and a weightas low as possible while it is robust and provides the necessaryfeatures for the intended use.

Thus, the existing relationship between the weight and the containerstructural strength has become a key factor, since reducingsignificantly the container weight many times may produce a loss ofstructural strength of the same which affects to a substantial extentthe packaging conditions and the integrity of the products themselves.On the other hand, said loss of weight is associated to a reduced use ofmaterial, which leads to an important cost reduction, crucial issue in acompetitive industry like the packaging industry where the use ofplastic has been gradually taking away market share to the cardboardindustry specially for its good resistive properties.

Therefore, the strength and weight parameters are critical in particularat the exports stage, where it is necessary that the container withproducts withstands the transport and storage conditions during extendedperiods of time and distances, also being relevant that it allows tomaintain the products inside in excellent conditions protecting themfrom bumps and crushings often produced even because of poor conditionsof the containers stacking which does not maintain their integrity whenarranged in the pallet and also when the latter is subsequently fastenedwith moorings or “strapping”, as this operation is frequently called.

In this context, for the export of products in the fruits and vegetablesindustry, mainly when the transport distances are significantly, oftenit is preferred the use of plastic containers because they have a betterstructural strength and a better resistance to environmental conditionssuch as moisture, than the cardboard containers do. Said containers areorganized in pallets and usually they are covered with a bag to preservethe products conditions for long periods of time when they aretransported inside containers and refrigerated lorries.

Said containers are often called “One Way”, as the name implies, theyhave one way or direction, that is to say, they are sent from the placeof origin to the place of destination without being used again for thesame purpose, where they are regularly destroyed and subsequentlyrecycled.

The state of the art describes some examples of One Way plasticcontainers, for example those disclosed by the Applicant in theApplications CL 879-2014 and CL 880-2014. Said Applications suggest aplastic container with collapsible walls whose objective is tosignificantly reduce weight but without sacrificing the structuralstrength.

In order to achieve this objective, the Application CL 879-2014 suggestsa novel light connection system between the containers walls, consistingof a clip type closure device incorporating a hollow tubular columnfixed to the faces. By means of this connection system it is possible tosignificantly reduce the amount of material in the containers cornerswithout lowering the structural strength even increasing it, since ittakes advantage of the firm structure of the hollow column incorporatedto the closure system which provides a firm and easy connection betweenthe container walls.

In turn, the Application CL 880-2014 suggests a bottom for a collapsibleplastic container which is able to reduce the container weight by meansof the T shaped ribs of variable height strategically distributed in thebottom. Said ribs allow to efficiently distribute forces towards thecontainer frame and therefore to avoid material in zones which do notrequire great forces.

With the systems suggested by the above mentioned references, theApplicant could reduce the weight of the plastic containers known atthat time in approximately 11%, obtaining a container of just 310 grs.Nevertheless, currently the technology advances, the increasing demandof goods in the food industry and the commitment to reduce the carbonfootprint, force manufacturing industries to continue improving theirproducts.

Thus, although the containers suggested by documents CL 879-2014 and CL880-2014 show a significant improvement in the strength to weight ratio,in order to satisfy the above mentioned issues, progressing to a secondlevel is critical where the progress not only means to reduce productioncosts but also to provide improvements to ensure a better quality of theproducts transported in One Way containers minimizing the lossesassociated to damages done during the transport and storage processesand thus complying with the quality standards required by thehorticulture industry for the export products.

Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to improve theabove mentioned plastic containers of the state of the art furnishing aOne Way container which provides a better strength to weight ratio. Inparticular, the aim is to produce a container weighing below 300 grswith sufficient stiffness so as to ensure the integrity of the productsinside it and a controlled deformation on forces originated duringpalletizing maintaining its structure all the time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists of a plastic container below 450 gr forexports of horticulture products, which preferably has a rectangularshape and it is formed by a bottom, two large walls facing each other,two small walls facing each other and an upper closure system. Accordingto a preferred embodiment of the invention, the walls of the containerare collapsible being these attached to the bottom and interconnectable.Nevertheless, the present invention is not limited only to this type ofcontainers also said walls can be fixed.

The containers walls are formed by a rectangular shaped frame whichcomprises a wall framework divided by pillars inside it. According to afirst embodiment, all the walls have a framework except one of the smallwalls which may comprise continued surfaces between pillars, which areusually used in the technique for illustrating logos, advertisement orany type of related information.

According to a second embodiment the container large walls are closedbeing formed by full and flat sections positioned between the pillars.

Both, in the embodiment of closed large walls and in the embodiment ofventilated large walls, the sections positioned between the pillars areslightly curved outwards for compensating the contraction producedduring the manufacturing process as a result of the cooling rate withthe walls frame, in this way allowing to maintain a controlleddeformation. As a result, in the embodiment of closed large walls, saidcurvature allows to reduce the walls thickness so that the final weightof the container is not increased in relation to the embodiment of thelarge walls with framework (ventilated).

In the second embodiment, having full large walls provides a bettervisual aesthetic of the containers positioned in the pallet and thepossibility to include logos, advertisement or any type of relatedinformation.

Another important feature of the container walls is related with theventilation conditions that these provide to the content stored insideit. In this regard, the design of the small wall or head arrangedoutwards in the pallet enables the air inlet along the entire contour ofthe continued zones. Thus, the ventilation is evenly distributed insidethe container.

Advantageously, in the embodiment where the container large walls areclosed, the air entering the container head is prevented from escapingthrough the separation between adjacent containers arranged in thepallet, therefore increasing the residence of cooling air inside thecontainer and better preserving the products inside it.

Also, the number of secondary or central pillars forming the containerwalls has been reduced, so in the small walls the number of secondarypillars is only two but they are arranged together in the center whilein the large walls the number of pillars is only three.

Advantageously, a few secondary pillars enable a significant reductionin the container total weight, but without losses in the structure finalstrength. On one side, this is due to the fact that in the small walls ahigher strength is requested in the center, since it is the zone fromwhich the workers usually grab the container. Therefore, having aconfiguration of two secondary pillars together allows to ensure thestrength in said critical point. On the other hand, the reduction ofpillars in the container large walls is possible because these are notrequested to control deformation in the walls since now the straps carryout this operation together with the wall pre-bent condition.

According to another aspect of the invention, the large walls and one ofthe small walls have a curved upper profile outwards the container.Advantageously, this pre-bent condition enables the walls to curveoutwards when the container is subjected to higher loads, for examplewhen they are stacked in a pallet. By doing so, the walls are preventedto curve inwards due to the force exerted by the clamps, crushing theproducts causing deformation or damage.

A similar effect is obtained by means of the closure system of thepresent invention consisting of three straps equidistantly distributedin the upper face of each large wall of the container, which converge intheir ends in the respective hook means being connected in the containercenter. The wall three straps assembly has an additional strapconnecting with a projection positioned in the upper face of thepre-bent small wall (the one looking outwards the pallet). Saidadditional strap acts as support so as when the pallet is strapped, thelarge walls and the pre-bent small wall are not excessively curvedoutwards because of the compression force that the clamp exerts on them,therefore maintaining a controlled deformation range ensuring thecontainer integrity.

Advantageously, the straps terminals positioned at the end of each largewall have been placed very close to the columns of the containercorners. This position reduces the large walls bending inwards allowingto maintain the integrity of the products within the container, sincewhen there is a short distance between the straps terminal and thecolumn, the torque exerted by the stretched straps on the walls when theclosure system is activated, is low.

Another advantage associated to this configuration is related to thefact that the cross formed between the straps of the opposite ends ofeach side of the walls is more aligned with the container diagonals,causing that the tension forces produced by the straps are distributedto the columns and not to the container middle zone, decreasing thedeformation thereof.

In turn, the connection media between the straps forming the closuresystem consist of a snaps system formed, according to a firstembodiment, by a female end and a male end tip top buckle type. Saidsystem allows for a quick, easy and user-friendly connection between thestraps.

According to a second embodiment, the female end is square shaped with acentral opening with guide and retention elements. In turn, the male endhas a head configured to be introduced in the female end opening beingtrapped with the retention elements allowing for an easy connection anddisconnection.

On the other hand, guides connecting the container walls have beenprovided in the system. Said guides are shaped like triangular ribsarranged in the female connector inlet and they help to introducequickly and clearly the male connector in the female connector.

Another relevant aspect of the container is related with the bottomfeatures, wherein the bottom framework is displaced in relation to theframe into the container. Such displacement being lower and continued inthe center zone of the frame and being higher towards the containercorners, therefore forming a parabolic profile of the framework of whichhighest point is positioned in the corners and the lowest point ispositioned in the frame center.

Advantageously, this configuration enables to reduce the bottomframework, on one side providing a relevant weight reduction but on theother hand, a greater bottom deformation as a result of the contentweight within the container above a thinner bottom. However, the bottommaximum deformation is not increased, since the bottom displacementallows the beginning and ending of the deformed distance to begin at ahigher height in relation to the bottom frame, so that said deformationdoes not affect the container products when positioned underneath in thepallet. This configuration also does not reduce the container usablevolume since the bottom areas laying over the products support surfaceare positioned in the walls contour and specially in the corners, thesespaces are usually not filled with horticulture products or others nothaving right-angled corners.

In order to improve the container structure, the bottom comprisesrectangular beams in the diagonals joining the bottom outer frameprofiles. According to embodiments of the invention, the beams may bestraight or half straight, curved towards the corners, upwards or both.This configuration allows the beams to adopt a pre-tensioned positioncompensating the deformation produced by the forces to which thecontainer is subjected when loaded and arranged in the pallet, enablingto ensure its structural stiffness and the integrity of the products.

Advantageously, the use of these diagonal beams in the container bottomreduces the frame profiles tendency to be “closed” when the bottom isloaded, that is to say, it prevents the initial 90° to be significantlyreduced causing bottom deformations and damaging the products. Anotheradvantage is related to the reduction of the bottom deformation surface,since due to the diagonal beams the bottom does not deform from thepillar towards the center, but mainly from the beams obtaining a morecontrolled deformation and transmitting forces to the frame itselfthrough the beams, which is the most resistant element of the bottom.

An additional advantage associated to the bottom diagonal beams is thatthey support the container corners zone which is the most tensioned whenit is subjected to loads. In order to assist, the bottom frameworkpositioned between each pillar and each beam also comprise T shaped ribswhich help to reinforce said most tensioned zone and to compensate thebottom height difference between the corners and the frame center,facilitating less deformation.

Another feature of the T shaped ribs is that the height is aligned withthe lower face of the diagonal beams. This one expedites the containerstransport operations in automatized systems using automatic transportlines, since it prevents the wheels of said systems to be introduced inthe space formed between the corner and the beam.

In addition, the bottom frame has a reinforced structure which allows toadd higher load reducing the bottom deformation and better supportingthe strapping forces. On the other hand, the thickness and/or width ofthe framework has been reduced within the triangular zones placed ineach bottom face center. Because the bottom framework zones are lesssubjected to forces it is possible to reduce the thickness and/or widthwithout significantly reducing the bottom maximum deformation butsignificantly reducing the container final weight.

The container of the present invention has hollow tubular columns, thisstructure resists a great vertical load and the forces transmitted fromthe bottom and walls. The container columns have a cross section formedby straight portions at the sidelines and a curved portion at the innerside. Unlike the state of the art containers wherein the portion of thecolumn outer side is straight, in the present invention said outerportion comprises a curved ratio allowing to improve the column sagresistance making it more similar to a cylinder. Accordingly, it isknown that a cylinder shape is more resistant but at the same timeprovides less contact surface in its mantle, which may affect theattachment of the walls to the container with the cylindric column andfitting with adjacent containers.

In order to compensate this contact surface reduction in the columnouter face, vertical bits protruding from the surface and which allow tofit with the ones of a continued container reducing displacement amongthem, have been included thereof.

According to the present invention, a separation or space is providedbetween pillars and small faces of the container walls, preferably thatarranged outwards a pallet. Said separation is deeper in the containerupper portion gradually decreasing towards the lower portion and itadvantageously allows a slight movement between the pillar and the wall,so that when the first deflects inwards as a result of the pressureexerted by the straps during palletizing, it has a wider range of motionbefore compressing the wall preventing or reducing deformation thereof.

Another significant feature of the present invention is related to themeans facilitating the containers palletizing. First of all, the columnin each corner finishes in the container bottom in a projection in theform of half ellipse, which has a slight conicity in the lateral facesand in the face aiming outwards the pallet. On one side, said projectionimproves the stacking between containers, since its shape allows it topenetrate in the column upper opening of the lower container and on theother hand, facilitates the removal because due to the conicity it iseasier to displace the projection from the column upper opening in onlyone direction while in the opposite direction the projection is lockedin order to ensure the coupling between containers. To that end, theribs surrounding the projection also have been reduced.

Secondly, the container of the present invention comprises trapezoidalcentering devices in the upper face of the large walls and in the bottomit comprises several channels arranged one after another fitting withthe centering devices. Thus, when the containers are arranged in thepallet, de lower container centering devices are trapped in the channelsof the upper container to avoid displacement between containers. Also,the arrangement of multiple channels allows that the centering devicesadopt several contact positions with the upper container frame toanticipate deformation and to control it on the basis of the conditionsand forces to which the container is subjected at the different stagesof the stacking and transport process.

On the other hand, the trapezoidal shape of the centering devices allowsthat the stacked upper container may be displaced and removed from thepallet, acting jointly with the lower conic projections of the columns.

The above mentioned characteristics and advantages correspond to acombination of improvements in different aspects or elements of thecontainer. The result is the obtention of a One Way plastic containerwith a weight below 300 gr, in other words, significantly lighter thanthe containers known in the state of the art, but at the same time withan optimal structure allowing to efficiently resist the forces to whichthe container is subjected and to control deformation for the purpose ofensuring all the time and in any conditions the integrity and quality ofthe products contained inside.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of the container of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an anterior elevation view of the container of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a posterior elevation view of the container of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a profile view of the container of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the container of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a lower view of the container of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7a illustrates a second embodiment of the walls of the container ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7b illustrates a representation of the air flow entering inside thecontainer of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a detail of the closure system of the container ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a detail of the connection between the large wallsand the closure system terminals of the container of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10a illustrates a first embodiment of the closure system connectionmedia of the present invention.

FIGS. 10b to 10d illustrate a second embodiment of the closure systemconnection media of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a detail of the container walls connection elements.

FIG. 12 illustrates a detail of the container bottom frame of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 13 to 15 illustrate details of the container bottom structure ofthe present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a detail of the container bottom upper face of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate details of the container columns of thepresent invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a projection placed in the lower surface of thecontainer corners of the present invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a detail of the joint between the container walls ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate the retention elements arranged in the wallsand bottom of the container of the present invention.

FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate an alternative configuration of the containerwalls of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to FIGS. 1 to 4 the present invention consists of a plasticcontainer 100 preferably rectangular being formed by a bottom 200, largewalls 110, small walls 120 and an upper closure system 300. According tothe illustrated embodiment, the container walls 110, 120 are collapsiblebeing attached in a fixed manner to the bottom 200 and being connectableeach other by wall connection media 130.

According to FIGS. 2 and 3, the small container walls 120 are formed bya small wall frame 121 rectangular in shape which comprises inside asmall wall framework 122 divided by two small wall secondary posts 123placed in the wall center. As it can be seen in FIG. 2, one of the smallwalls may comprise closed surfaces 124 between the small wall secondaryposts 123.

The small wall frame 121 may comprise in its upper portion a series ofholes 125 in order to lighten the structure, in the lower portion tworecesses 126 which houses the upper container columns when they are infolded state to reduce the stacking volume, are configured. Preferably,said recesses comprise holes in order to facilitate the air passageinside the container.

According to FIG. 4, the container large walls 110 are formed by a largewall frame 111 rectangular in shape which comprises inside a large wallframework 112 divided by three large wall secondary posts 113equidistantly positioned. Preferably, the portions of the large wall 112framework placed between the posts are slightly curved outwards. In thelateral ends of the large walls 100, there are vertical columns 400which are part of the frame. Also, in the upper portion of the frame aseries of holes to lighten the structure may be configured while in theframe upper face the container upper closure system media 300 isarranged.

According to FIGS. 5 and 6, the container large walls 110 and one of thesmall walls 120 have the upper profiled curved outwards. In theillustrated embodiments, it can be seen that the container walls arepre-bent outwards except the right small wall, because when placing thecontainer in a pallet said wall is inside it contacting the wall of anadjacent container, therefore it does not bend inwards as a result ofthe force produced by the clamps.

FIG. 7a illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present inventionwherein the container large walls 110 are closed being formed byquadrangular sections 116 placed between the large wall secondary posts113 which have a low thickness, they are preferably flat and areslightly curved outwards.

As it can be seen in FIG. 7b , the small wall configuration 120comprising closed surfaces 124 between pillars allow the air inletthrough the frame holes and the open framework zone in the lateral andlower ends of the frame as represented by arrows in said FIG. 7 b.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8 the container upper closure system 300consists of three flexible straps 310 equidistantly distributed in theupper face of each container large wall 110 thus attached fixedly bymeans of terminals 320. The three straps 310 of each large wall 110converge in their ends in a hook means 340 and as it can be seen in FIG.8 the three straps assembly of one of the large walls has an additionalstrap 350 which consists of an elongated element attached to the zone inwhich the three straps converge at and which comprises in its free end,a hole shaped connector 351 connected to a projection 360 (see FIG. 5)positioned in the upper face of the pre-bent small wall 120.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the straps terminals 320 placed in each largewall 110 ends are positioned very close to the columns 400 placed at thecontainer corners, so that when the upper closure system 300 isactivated the straps 310 of the opposite ends of each wall approximatelymatch the container diagonals.

As it can be seen in the embodiment of FIG. 10a , the hook means 340 ofthe straps system consists of a tip top buckle type snaps system, thatis to say, formed by a hollow female end 341 and a trident shaped maleend 342, so that for the closing operation the male end is inserted inthe female end being the trident retained in the inner space of thefemale end. Therefore, and for the removal of the male end 342 from thefemale end 341, it is enough to press the trident edges and to slide itthrough the female end 341.

According to a second illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 10b to 10d , asquare shaped female end 341′ is provided with a central opening 343with guide 344 and retention 345 elements which consist of projectionsplaced in the opening vertexes 343, the guide elements 344 havingpyramid shape and the retaining elements having parallelepiped shapewith beveled end and being longer than the first ones.

In turn, the male end 347 has an hexagonal shaped head which isconfigured to be introduced in the female end opening sliding over theguide elements 344 and being retained by the retention elements 345between the opening walls 343, as it can be seen in the sequenceillustrated by FIGS. 10c and 10 d.

FIG. 11 shows the connection elements connecting the container wallsends in their collapsible embodiment. According to the illustration, thesmall walls 120 ends comprise a male connector 127 protruding from theouter edge of the small wall frame. The large walls ends 110 comprise afemale connector 114 attached to the column lateral face 400 andconfigured to receive the male connector 127 of the adjacent small wall.

Preferably, the male connector 127 comprises three projections placed inparallel at the horizontal axis, the central projection having a flange128. The female connector 114 comprises two receptacles in its ends toreceive the projections from the male connector ends 127 and a centralopening to receive the central projection and to fix one of the flangelateral faces 128 in the female connector, as illustrated in FIG. 17.Thus, the male connector is firmly attached to the female connector andin turn they can be detached only pressing the flange 128 and sliding itbackwards through the female connector 114.

Continuing with FIG. 11, in the zone between column 400 and the femaleconnector 114, guides 115 are configured in the form of triangular ribsand which help to easy and clearly introduce the male connector in thefemale connector.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, which illustrates a detail of the lower faceof the container bottom 200, being said bottom formed by a bottom frame210 and a bottom base 220, which in the illustrated embodiment is formedby a series of rectangular shaped strips arranged diagonally from thebottom frame 210. The bottom base 220 is vertically displaced inrelation to the bottom frame 210. This displacement is lower andcontinued in the center zone of the frame and it is higher towards thecontainer corners, therefore forming a parabolic profile of theframework of which highest point 221 is positioned in the corners andthe lowest point 222 is positioned in the center of each face of theframe.

Another feature of the suggested container bottom 200 is illustrated inFIGS. 13 and 14 and it is related to rectangular beams 230 in thediagonals joining the bottom frame profiles 210. Preferably, the beams230 have a profile in the form of a straight “C” with flat upper face.According to the FIG. 13 embodiment, the beams 230 can be straight orsemi straight. Additionally and according to FIG. 14, the beams 230 canbe curved towards the container corners and even in other embodimentsthey could be curved upwards and alternatively upwards ad towards thecorners simultaneously.

FIG. 15 teaches another feature of the container bottom, wherein it canbe seen that the bottom base portion 220 placed between each column andeach beam 230 also comprises T shaped ribs 231, that is to say, thevertical projections rise from the lower face of the bottom base,preferably they are placed in parallel in the framework diagonalsrunning in only one direction (main diagonal). The ribs height is alsoaligned with the beams 230 lower face.

As it can be seen in FIG. 16, the bottom base 220 comprise zones withless material 240 consisting of a reduction in the thickness and/orwidth of the framework within the zones represented by triangles whichare placed in each face center of the bottom.

As it can be seen in FIG. 17, the columns 400 are configured in a hollowtubular shape with a cross section formed by straight portions 401 atthe sidelines, a first curved portion 402 at the inner side and a secondcurved portion 403 at the outer side, the first curved portion 402having a bending radius higher than the second portion 403. Also,according to FIG. 18 the column 400 in its upper end has an upperwidening 410 and in its lower end has a lower projection 420 the latterbeing configured to be introduced and to fit with the upper widening 410of a lower container during palletizing. In the column outer faceportion 400 specifically the one oriented parallel to the containersmall walls, vertical ribs 430 are configured with a form of verticaland parallel straight bands protruding from the surface.

In relation to FIG. 19, it can be seen that the lower projection 420 ishalf ellipsed shaped comprising a slight conicity in the lateral facesand in the face pointing outwards the pallet. The face pointing outwardsthe pallet is less marked or straight curved shaped. In addition, thecolumn lower portion comprises an extension 450 protruding thereof in adirection parallel to the small wall and the lowered or beveled innerribs 451 surrounding the lower projection 420, are arranged inside it.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, between pillars 400 and the container smallwalls 120 a space or separation 460 is configured (see as representedbetween arrows), preferably in the small wall arranged outwards thepallet. Preferably, said space 460 is produced between the small wallframe 121 and the female connector receptacles 114 and according to aparticular embodiment (not illustrated) said separation is more markednear the wall upper end gradually decreasing in the lower direction.

As it can be seen in FIG. 21, the container of the present inventioncomprises in the large walls upper face 110 at least one trapezoidalcentering device 500 and in the bottom frame lower face 210 at least onechannel 550. Preferably, several channels 550 are arranged one afteranother and configured to fit and to temporarily block the containercentering devices below during palletizing.

Regarding FIGS. 23 and 24, there are two configurations of the largewall secondary posts 113 which have a curved “C” shaped cross section.The first configuration illustrated in FIG. 23 wherein the posts have anopen face outwards the container and a second configuration illustratedin FIG. 24, wherein the posts have an open face inwards the container.By means of this last configuration, it is possible to simplify themould design for manufacturing the piece, therefore facilitating thecontainer manufacturing process.

1. Plastic container upper closure for containing and transportinghorticultural products which allows to control deformation of thestructure on forces and to maintain the integrity of the products storedinside the container, the upper closure is configured by three flexiblestraps equidistantly distributed in the upper face of two containerwalls attached to it by terminals wherein the three straps of each largewall converge in their ends in hook means, wherein the three strapsassembly of at least one side has an additional strap consisting of anelongated element attached to the zone in which the three strapsconverge and it comprises a connector in its free end.
 2. The upperclosure according to claim 1, wherein said connector consists of a hole.3. The upper closure according to claim 1, wherein the additional strapis configured to connect with a projection of the upper face of at leastone wall of the container.
 4. The upper closure according to claim 1,wherein the three straps assembly of both sides has an additional strap.5. The upper closure according to claim 1, wherein the terminals arepositioned very close to the lateral ends of the container walls.
 6. Theupper closure according to claim 1, wherein the hook means consist of atip top buckle type snaps system.
 7. The upper closure according toclaim 1, wherein the hook means consist of a female end having a centralopening with guide elements and retaining elements; and in a male endhaving a head configured to be introduced in the opening of the femaleend.
 8. The upper closure according to claim 7, wherein the guide andretaining elements consist of projections positioned in the openingvertexes, the guide elements having pyramid shape and the retainingelements having parallelepiped shape with beveled end.
 9. The upperclosure according to claim 7, wherein the head has an hexagonal shape.